The Rise and Fall of the Kievan Rus' and the Mongol Invasion: A History of Russia

🚢The Vikings, also known as the Varangians, traded with the powerful Byzantine Empire, establishing trade routes and founding fortified trading posts.

🗺️The Kievan Rus' expanded their territory and faced tensions with the Khazar kingdom in the south and nomadic tribes from Central Asia in the south.

🏰The Mongols invaded and subjected the Russian principalities, establishing the Golden Horde as the ruling power in the region.

🪖Muscovy rose to power and eventually freed itself from the Mongol domination, becoming the new center of Russian power.

👑Michael Romanov was elected as the first tsar of the new dynasty, starting a long and influential period in Russian history.

Who were the Varangians?

—The Varangians were Vikings from Scandinavia who traded with the Byzantine Empire and founded fortified trading posts.

What territories did the Kievan Rus' expand into?

—The Kievan Rus' expanded its territory and faced tensions with the Khazar kingdom in the south and nomadic tribes from Central Asia in the south.

How did the Mongol invasion impact Russia?

—The Mongols invaded and subjected the Russian principalities, establishing the Golden Horde as the ruling power in the region.

How did Muscovy rise to power?

—Muscovy rose to power by freeing itself from the Mongol domination and becoming the new center of Russian power.

Who was the first tsar of the new dynasty?

—Michael Romanov was elected as the first tsar of the new dynasty, starting a long and influential period in Russian history.

00:00During the 9th century, the Vikings known as the Varangians traded with the powerful Byzantine Empire, establishing trade routes and founding fortified trading posts.

12:39In 1591, an impostor claims to be Dmitri Ivanovitch, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, and gathers support to seize the Russian throne.

14:12After the death of Boris Godunov, the impostor enters Moscow and becomes Tsar, but is soon assassinated due to accusations of Western orientation.

14:49A new Tsar supported by the Boyars and Poland-Lithuania becomes ruler, causing rebellions and a rise of impostors.

15:07After the defeat of the Poles, delegates of Russian cities elect Michael Romanov as the first Tsar of the new dynasty.